Hello and welcome to another round of my weekly mailbag! My name is Dr. Ryan and, if it’s your first time here, this is the South Beach Skin Lab Community’s weekly tradition! Every Friday I answer two questions from customers who need a little help with their skincare routine.
First up, we have a question from Grace in Little Rock, AR.Q: Hi Dr. Ryan. I have been hearing a lot of good things about Glycolic acid and how it helps get rid of wrinkles, but when I tried it my skin reacted to it. Is there something similar I can use to help me get the same results?
A: Hi Grace! There are a whole bunch of products you can use to help you get similar results and reduce your wrinkles. Let’s explore some of our options…
Glycolic acid is a really great ingredient because it has the power to exfoliate the skin on a deeper level than regular scrubs do.
This helps to speed up your skin’s regeneration process, which ultimately leads to fewer wrinkles and fine lines, along with a silky smooth complexion.
But it comes with a catch…
It’s not the most gentle ingredient and can make your skin really agitated!
Glycolic acid is a type of AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid), and while it can be a pretty intense ingredient, there are a lot of other AHAs out there that your skin will find a lot more agreeable.
For example, MFA complex.
This ingredient is one of the most powerful ingredients in my Lavender Oil Cleanser and it is a mixture of different AHAs that have the same function of Glycolic acid without all the irritation.
In fact, I chose this product specifically because it’s not so harsh on sensitive skin.
It helps to smooth fine lines and wrinkles and also helps decrease dryness.
I’ve also paired it with Lavender oil, which helps soothe the skin and relax the mind. It’s the perfect way to end your day and unwind right before bed!
No matter what you end up trying, I always recommend doing a patch test on your wrist if you have sensitive skin. After all, everybody reacts differently to different products and it’s important to be cautious!
My next question is from Jill in Long Island, NY
Q: Hi Dr. Ryan! I hang out with a lot of women who get a lot of expensive treatments and they look incredible, and I am always worried about how my neck area looks when I’m around them. I can’t afford all the stuff they do. Is there anything else that can help me?
A: Hi Jill! All these expensive treatments are very convenient and they do have a lot of benefits, but the truth is they aren’t realistic for everyone - and that’s ok! There are definitely a few things you can do to save some cash and feel confident around everyone as well!
If your neck area is starting to worry you, the first thing you should remember is that it’s a natural part of aging.
The neck area is one of the most vulnerable areas to aging because gravity is constantly working to pull the skin down and create sagging skin.
I personally believe that no matter who you are, you’ll end up with signs of aging in your neck area sooner or later - there’s no escaping it!
The good thing is that you can do a lot of things to take care of your neck skin and keep it healthy and happy for a long time.
The first way to do that is to never skip sunscreen.
UV rays break down collagen, which is something you should keep healthy if you want to avoid sagging skin and turkey neck.
No matter what the weather looks like outside, always start your day with SPF, and make sure you cover your neck area just as well as your face.
The next thing you want to do is apply your Neck Firming Cream in upwards strokes.
By using upward strokes and not downward strokes, you’re avoiding pulling your skin down and creating even more sagging!
Lastly, make sure your neck cream is going to help you firm and tighten the skin around your neck. This with help lift and sculpt everything into place so you don’t feel so self-conscious anymore.
Above all - remember that we are all vulnerable to aging in different ways, and it’s a natural part of life!
What matters most is that you are always kind to yourself no matter how you look. Our appearances will always change, but it’s who we are on the inside that counts.
All the best, Jill!
